This invention relates to safety razors of the type in which a flexible wafer-like blade i; clamped between a cap and a guard memf Among the objects of the invention are to provide a construction which will give the blade a reverse curve of novel characteristics; to absorb any and all vibrations which may be set-'up in the blade during the use of the device, to protect the corners of the cutting edge of the blade and also to'support these corners, thus precluding vibrations longitudinally of the cutting edge; to provide for the adjustment of the handle relatively to its use for shaving in a direction dia onal to the cutting edge; and to provide a b ade usable in the above types of razors which has novel and positive positioning means. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be particularly pointed out in the accompanying specification and claims read in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views of four 'forms of my razor showin how the invention may be applied, each 0% these forms being designed for using only one cutting edge of the blade at a time;

Fig. 5 is a central transverse section showing the method of adjusting the handle relatively to the head;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the form of razor shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an edge elevation of the razor shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section of a portion of the razor of any one of the above modifications showing the method of clamping the blade adjacent to its edge and its relation to the ends of the guard; and

Fig. 9 isa plan view of a blade usable in any one of these razors. l

Referring to Fig. 1, the blade-clamping cap is indicated at 1 and is shaped in section substantially like a curved tooth. It is provided with positioning pins 2 which are adapted to protrude through and position the blade 3 relatively to the cap in a manner later to be described. A threaded ,50 vstem 4 is associated with the cap 1 in a manthe head of the razor, whereby to facilitatener also later to be described. This stem 4 protrudes through a central aperture in the blade 3 and thence through an aperture 5 in a dome-shaped boss 6 on the guard member 7.

The cap 1 and guard member. 7 are pro- 55 vided respectively with convex and concave `si'ufaoes positioned opposite each other when the parts are inoperative position and together serving to. clamp a substantial area of the blade 3 and flex the clamped portion of 60 it in one direction, the convex surface of the cap 1 being indicated at 8. The guard is provided at 10 (Fig. 8) with a shoulderv which serves as a ulcrum for flexing the blade in a direction opposite that to which it is flexed by the surface 8 and the cooperating surface of the guard 7. The cap l is provided on its left-hand side as seen in Fi'g. 1 with an edge portion 11 bearing on the blade 3 on a line nearer the cutting edge ,9 of the 7o blade than the fulcrum shoulder 10 and parallel with both of these. This construction of the cap and guard serves to give the blade a single reverse curvature extending substantially all of the way between its edges, thereby retaining its cutting edge 9 substantially rigid. Fig. 8 also shows the manner in which the blade bevel 12 is supported at its ends by making contact over the entire width of the bevel with the portion 13 of the guard, so which in turn carries the bar guard 14 at both en-ds, Fig. 6. It is to be understood that this same idea could be utilized with a toothed guard by making the end teeth of a configuration similar to that shown at 13.

Fig. 2 shows a razor identical with that shown in Fig. 1 with the exception that the cap member 1 is recessed a-s/shown at 15, this recess being filled with lead 0r other relatively soft and nonresilient material 16 90 which serves to absorb any vibrations which may be transmitted to the rear portion of the blade from the cutting edge 9 while the device is in use.

Fig. 3 shows the, invention applied to a 95 razor using a blade having a single curve, in which case a double edged blade 32 may be used. Only one edge of the blade is designed to be used in this form of razor, as in those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the guard 142 being 100 used in connection with shaving and the guard 143 being only to protect the edge not in use. In this modification the stem 4 is fixed to the head 12 and protrudes through suitable apertures in the blade 32 and guard 7 thus permitting but a single position ,of the handle substantially symmetrical with the head of the razor. The cap 12 may be grooved transversely as indicated by the dotted line A17 and soft material, as for example lead, inserted in the grooves for the same above described modifications of the invenpurposes as in the razor shown in Fig. 2.

Flg. 4 shows a form of the razor similar to Fig. 1 with the exception that the head 1a is of lighter construction than the head 1 of Fig. 1. The head l3 comprises a relatively light tooth-shaped portion 18 Which is integral with the bearing portion 19, the latter bei'pg provided with a surface 8 as is the cap 1 i 1.

7Figs. 5,6 and 7 show the invention applied to a double edged razor in which the en bearing portion of the) cap on 'the blade is 4 made as 'a series of lugs or ribs 20 centrally of the cap. The flexing of the blade is accomplished by fulcrum shoulders 10 and 10 similar to shoulder 10, Figs 1 and 8, portions of theV cap 14 overhangin'g these flilcrum shoulders on either side in the same manner asis shown in detail in Fig. 8.

The means for mounting the handle at various angles with the head of the razor may comprise a ball and socket connection between the stem 4 and the cap 14, the blade and guardbeing provided with suitable enlarged openings for permitting the adjustment of the stem relatively to the cap. While a universal adjustment may for some purposes be desirable, and is contemplated by this invention, I have shown an adjustment on a line making an angle of approximately with the cutting edge or edges of the' blade. This is accomplished by providing the stem 4 with an enlarged ball-like head 21 which fits within a, similarly shaped socket4 22 in the cap 14, the stem 4 protruding through a tapering aperture 23 in one of the enlargements 20.- The blade 3 is provided with acentral elongated aperture 24 arranged at an angle of approximately v45 with its cutting edges and the guard 7 is provided witha dome-shaped boss 6 having an elongated aperture 25 therein similar to and parallel with the aperture 24 in the blade, whereby the stem 4may be adjustedr througha range, the limits of which are in` dicated by the dotted outlines 26 and 2'1 in Flg. 5. y

Fig. 9 hows a blade 3 proviaeaewith a' central elongated slot- 24 for the purpose described abve and permitting angular adjustment of the stem without disturbing the position of the blade. It is also provided with positioning apertures for engagment with the pins 2 of the cap. One of these apertures 26 is preferably of substantially the same size and conguration as one of the pins 2,

whereby to position that portion of the blade in all'directions; the other aperture 27" is shown elongated in a direction parallel to the cutting edges of the blade, and preferably also the 'long dimension 'of the aperture 27 is on aline passing through the center of aperture 26, providing for slight variations in theidimensions of the parts employed.

It is to be understood that-in each of the so-called diagonal stroke, it may be convenient to adjust the handle to one of the dotted line positions as seen in Fig. 5er as shown in full li'nesin Figs. 1, 2 and 4 or any intermediate position, whereby if the handle is drawn in the direction which it is desired to shave, the blade will be held at an angle with that direction which in the opinion of some users. gives a better and morey comfortable shave.

As it is obvious that various modifications, using the basic ideas outlined above, maybe made, I do not wish to limit myself except by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A safety razor comprising a thin waferlike blade and cap and guard members adapted to clamp the blade between them so as to flex it transversely of its cutting edge, in which the guard is provided with projections at both ends extending above the remainder of the guard, curved reversely as compared to the blade curvature and shaped to make contact with the blade only over the width of the bevel at both ends of the cutting" edge, thus protecting the ends of the edge.

2. A safety razor comprising a thin waferlike blade and cap and guard members adapted to clamp the blade between them so as to flex it transversely of its cutting edge, in which the cap and guard are provided with relatively large surfaces cooperating with each other to clamp the blade when the parts are in operative position, another portion of the cap having a line contact with the blade, and a portion of one of said surfaces being provided with a recess which is filled with a soft and substantially non-resilient metal to absorb any vibrations of the blade while in use.

3. A safety razor comprising a thin waferlike blade and cap and guard members adaptflex it transversely of its cutting edge, said blade having positioning apertures therein and an elongated slot atan oblique angle to the cutting edge of the blade, and a threaded stem having a ball and socket engagement with the cap, the l'uard being provided with a dome-shaped o ss thereon having an obliquely disposed elongated slot adapted to register with that in the blade to permit the threaded stem to pass through both when the parts are in operative position, said threaded stem adapted te engage a handle, whereby the handle may be adjusted re1ative- 1y to the razor head to adapt the razor for shaving with a diagonal cutting stroke.

4. A safety razor comprising' a cap, a guard, a flexible' blade, and means to hold the parts in assembled relation, the cap having a relatively largeconvex surface adapted to clamp that portion of the blade away from its operative edge between itself and a correspondingly-s aped portion of the guard, said guard having adjacent to the operative edge of the blade a fulcrumshoulder, and the cap having a portion making a line contact with the blade and overhanging the fulcrum shoulder, whereby the blade is given asingle reverse iexure in a direction transverse to its cutting edge.

5. A flexible blade for safety razdsphaving' two positioning apertures shaped to retain the blade against transverse displacement and a slot'located between them and arranged at an oblique angle lto the cutting edge of the blade.v Y